
Evangelical and Protestant leaders in Latin America react to the election of Pope Leo XIV
For specialists familiar with the Vatican, the election of American Robert Francis Prevost Martinez as the new pope sends clear political and symbolic signals, both within and outside the Catholic world. This was evident in his first speech, when he spoke in Italian and Spanish—eschewing his native language, English—which some viewed as a clear sign of geopolitical distancing. As always, when the Catholic Church renews its leadership, all eyes are on the new figure who emerges.